South Webster softball
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Brock Netter

Brock is SOSA's primary writer and has worked for the Coshocton Tribune, the Kankakee Daily Journal (Ill.), the Vinton-Jackson Courier and the Jackson Telegram. He's a six-time award-winning journalist, a lifelong WWE fan, a suffering Bengals fan and calls the sidelines his home.

South Webster’s historical season ends with state semifinal loss

The Jeeps end their season after winning their first-ever regional title.

Brock Netter, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

AKRON — Whether it was Thursday or Saturday, this spring’s softball season was coming to an end.

Unfortunately for South Webster, that end came on Thursday — just one step away the Jeeps’ ultimate goal.

South Webster (25-4) simply ran out of gas down the stretch and couldn’t swing momentum into its favor, ending the season with an 11-4 loss to South Range in a Division III state semifinal at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.

“It’s been a great year. We’ve overcome a lot of obstacles to make it to this point and we’ve fought for everything,” South Webster coach Andy Messer said. “South Range hit the ball really well and found a lot of gaps, which didn’t help us at all. Unfortunately, it’s not the outcome that we wanted, but I couldn’t be more proud of these girls for what they’ve accomplished.”

South Webster’s season may be over, but the memories of the 2024 team will live on forever after the Jeeps claimed sectional and district crowns and, of course, the program’s first-ever regional championship.

“It’s definitely great to do something that no team in South Webster history has ever done, and it put us on the map,” Messer said. “We’ll put a banner up on the wall as regional champions, and that’s pretty cool. We would have liked to include state champions as well, but we’re moving in that direction.”

“Our sophomore year, we were a No. 6 seed and I don’t think anyone had us picked to make a Sweet 16, but it was something we knew was possible since we’ve all played together since we were kids,” South Webster’s Bella Claxon said. “That year gave us a taste of what it’s like to make it that far, and we just continued to build from that. Losing to Wheelersburg last year in the regional [tournament] sucked, but we had a full returning roster and we knew we could do something really special. So it feels good being able to achieve that goal.”

South Webster started behind the eight ball quickly on Thursday.

South Webster’s Jaiden White delivers a pitch during the Jeeps’ Division III state semifinal appearance at Akron’s Firestone Stadium on Thursday.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA

South Range (29-3) didn’t waste its early opportunity to set the tone as Giada Pauline followed a leadoff double with an RBI single to right field, making it 1-0. 

In the next inning, the Jeeps helped the Rangers out, committing a throwing error to score another run. Later, Ashley Rupert laced an RBI single into right field, extending the lead to 3-0. 

However, South Webster battled back fiercely in the bottom of the third.

After a leadoff walk to Makayla Raynard, she scored on an RBI double from Jaiden White to cut the deficit to 3-1. 

The Jeeps continued to battle and managed to get two more runners on. That’s when Bella Claxon stepped up and smoked a two-run double off the wall, tying the game at 3-3. 

“We played with an unmatched energy against Wheelersburg in the regional final, and we needed to match that energy in the third,” South Webster’s Skylar Zimmerman said. “Our energy and confidence continued to grow during that inning, but it was definitely hard to maintain it.”

After a scoreless fourth, South Range had seen enough and took back all momentum. 

Solena DeJesus and Kiera Winner hit back-to-back RBI doubles to make it a 5-3 game. Then Addison Wardle kept the inning alive with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single from Pauline, furthering the lead to 8-3. 

“They were very relentless on offense. We kept trying to find answers, but sometimes it’s just not your day,” Claxon said. “We did a great job fighting back the first time down 3-0 to tie it. But when you have to do it a second time, it’s tough to keep that same intensity, especially when they’re hitting the ball so hard.”

South Webster attempted to begin chipping away and got a run back when Claxon smacked an RBI double into center field, cutting South Range’s lead to 8-4. 

But the Raiders pushed the lead back to five in its next at-bat when Rupert found a hole and smoked an RBI double into left center field for a 9-4 lead. 

They added two more off an RBI double from Kiera Brogan and a sacrifice bunt from Pauline, before closing the door in the seventh and ending the Jeeps’ season. 

Claxon finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs for South Webster, while White took the loss in the circle, striking out four batters and going 1-for-3 at the dish with a double and an RBI.

“This team is so special, and I feel like no team has the chemistry that we have among ourselves,” South Webster’s Ashlee Spence said. “From getting to a Sweet 16 two years ago, the Elite Eight last year and the Final Four this year is unreal. The memories are incredible and it really brought us closer as a team.”

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